The first snowfall of the season brings with it the dreaded winter commute and this can cause issues for businesses that rely on their employees arriving to work on time. Employees who were able to commute during the warmer months, be it in their own vehicle, on a bicycle or public transit, may see that commute double in the winter. Now, as the temperature drops, businesses may start to see their employment rates fall as well as employees look for opportunities closer to home to avoid the stress of the winter commute.
One of the issues facing employees during the winter months is treacherous driving conditions that can make it difficult to get to work on time, if at all. While some corporate jobs have been able to offer work from home options for employees during the pandemic, working remotely isn’t a possibility for many jobs. Hazardous road conditions may hinder people’s ability to travel into their workplaces, or discourage them from coming in altogether. Some of the most common accidents that occur in the winter all deal with commuting; rear end collisions, sliding through intersections and collisions due to reduced visibility from white outs. Falling snow can also create hidden dangers in the form of black ice which is the leading cause of commuter death during the winter months along with inexperienced drivers who may not be equipped to handle the slick roads. The road conditions also contribute to higher traffic levels which leads to higher fuel consumption that can greatly impact employees and adds another factor for them to consider when deciding to brave the commute to work.
The effect that the winter months have on employee commutes can put businesses at risk of financial ruin. With less employees on hand, this can lead to orders going unfulfilled, targets not being reached and losses in profits, leaving companies struggling during an already difficult time. The worse the winter season, the more these issues can snowball and have lasting effects on businesses.
Public transit does offer alternatives, whether it be trains, subways, or buses, which can help commuters get to work on time by avoiding the worst of the traffic. It can also help to keep their personal costs down by saving money on gas and other necessary expenses like winter tires and windshield wiper fluid. Public transportation has also been shown to be a much safer way to commute compared to personal vehicles. A 2014 report from Transport Canada showed that almost 150,000 people were killed or injured in motor vehicle collisions. Commuter trains, buses, subways and streetcars are much safer than automobiles and offer lower rates of injury and death since they are heavier and stronger vehicles. Being larger also makes them more visible compared to other vehicles and they often have their own designated right-of-ways to avoid everyday traffic, and most importantly, they are operated by highly trained drivers.
But they face their own issues as well. They can still be impacted by the effects of winter weather and aren’t always as far reaching or reliable as commuters would like. On top of that, everyone in the world is still living through a pandemic and overcrowded buses and trains can leave people more exposed than they would like. Employees may then take it upon themselves to avoid these hurdles and look for job opportunities that will allow them to avoid these hurdles.
With so many obstacles, companies can find it difficult to retain employees during the winter months, let alone hire more to make up for the losses in the workforce. More and more, employees and businesses are looking to level out the work-life balance and create a work environment where people don’t feel like they have to choose between one or the other. Extraneous commutes tend to dissuade prospective employees from applying to jobs or continuing at their current position when the weather affects their day-to-day in such a negative manner. What’s needed is a safe and effective solution to get employees to their workplace without fear of navigating through inclement weather or exposure to COVID-19.
Hop In has created that solution. By offering companies with reliable shuttle services, businesses can expect their employees to arrive safely to their workplace and avoid the stress of the winter commute. Safe winter commuting not only keeps your employees and those around them safe, it also offers benefits for the company as well. With employees able to reach their destination safely, companies can save on injury and illness costs, reduce absenteeism and promote a stronger workforce which increases productivity and quality of work.
By travelling with Hop In, riders can assuage their fears of navigating the winter roads. Pick-up locations are chosen with the rider’s safety in mind, with overhead coverings and surfaces cleared of ice and snow, either by public or private services. The shuttle itself is heated properly and to the rider’s specifications and grip material is used in the aisle of charter buses to reduce the risk of slips and injury. Hop In also takes factors like traffic, boarding and exit times into their schedules, so riders can book their pick-up accordingly and without worry of arriving late to work.
Each Hop In operator is a skilled and licensed driver with experience dealing with hazardous road conditions, plus they are trained and their abilities are tested regularly. The vehicles themselves are rigorously maintained to ensure that they are functioning at full capacity with things like tire treads, air pressure and braking systems checked frequently to ensure a safe ride every time. These safety precautions don’t only pertain to the winter months – Hop In’s commitment to the rider’s safety is year round and vehicles are checked with incredible scrutiny. Hop In welcomes any potential riders who are still hesitant about the shuttle service to go through the company’s insurance and licensing policies, review the company’s stellar track record or discuss any other concerns that they may have.
Hop In also helps to fill in the gaps that commuters may find in the public transportation system, allowing them to never have to worry about missing a day due to frozen train tracks, detours in bus routes or maintenance delays. Not only that, Hop In’s micro transit system reduces the amount of contact commuters will face and alleviates fears of riding shoulder to shoulder with strangers on public transit.
From corporate positions to frontline workers, Hop In is making it possible for employees to get to their jobs safely, allowing companies to maintain their workforce and keep up with the demands of their business with state-of-the-art technology and reliable shuttle services.